Bears’ challenge for a touchdown turns into a fumble and turnover in bizarre ruling

Nam Y. Huh/AP

• Chicago Bears running back Benny Cunningham dove for the end zone on a 23-yard run against the Green Bay Packers and was ruled down at the 1-yard line.
• The Bears challenged the call, believing he scored.
• The referees ruled that Cunningham actually fumbled out of the end zone, turning the ball over to the Packers.

A bizarre challenge ruling in the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game came back to hurt the Bears more than it helped.

In the second quarter, Bears running back Benny Cunningham had a 23-yard scramble and was tackled at the 1-yard line. Bears coach John Fox challenged the play, arguing that Cunningham scored a touchdown.

The referees reviewed the play, and found that Cunningham actually fumbled the ball out of the end zone, resulting in a touchback. Not only did the Bears not score, the ruling actually turned the ball over to the Packers instead if giving it to the Bears on 1st-and-goal.

Here’s the play:

Bears coach John Fox could only close his eyes as the referees explained the ruling.